GB2508809A - Solar steam generator using graphene foam - Google Patents

Solar steam generator using graphene foam Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2508809A
GB2508809A GB1220834.4A GB201220834A GB2508809A GB 2508809 A GB2508809 A GB 2508809A GB 201220834 A GB201220834 A GB 201220834A GB 2508809 A GB2508809 A GB 2508809A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
water
steam generator
solar
heat exchanger
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1220834.4A
Other versions
GB201220834D0 (en
Inventor
Gideon St Wan Kukard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB1220834.4A priority Critical patent/GB2508809A/en
Publication of GB201220834D0 publication Critical patent/GB201220834D0/en
Publication of GB2508809A publication Critical patent/GB2508809A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F22—STEAM GENERATION
    • F22B—METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
    • F22B1/00—Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method
    • F22B1/006—Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method using solar heat
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F22—STEAM GENERATION
    • F22B—METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
    • F22B37/00—Component parts or details of steam boilers
    • F22B37/02—Component parts or details of steam boilers applicable to more than one kind or type of steam boiler
    • F22B37/04—Component parts or details of steam boilers applicable to more than one kind or type of steam boiler and characterised by material, e.g. use of special steel alloy
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
    • F24S10/40—Solar heat collectors using working fluids in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors
    • F24S10/45—Solar heat collectors using working fluids in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors the enclosure being cylindrical
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
    • F24S10/80—Solar heat collectors using working fluids comprising porous material or permeable masses directly contacting the working fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/74—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F13/00—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing
    • F28F13/003—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing by using permeable mass, perforated or porous materials
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F21/00—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials
    • F28F21/02—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of carbon, e.g. graphite
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems

Abstract

A solar evaporator or steam generator 1 comprises an elongate tubular housing 10 of transparent material, and one or more solar transparent heat exchangers 20, 30, 40 along the length of the housing. Each heat exchanger has a flow channel with a water inlet 22, 32, 42 and steam outlet 23, 33, 43, and a graphene foam structure 24, 34, 44 between the inlet and outlet. A concave mirror 11 is located on the inside wall of the housing to focus sunlight on the solar heat exchangers. In use each heat exchanger heats water passing over the graphene foam structure to convert the water to a vapour, which may be used to drive a steam turbine or condensed to provide fresh water from sea water. Each heat exchanger may be a transparent tube with an evacuated double-wall, with a hollow body forming the water flow channel. An outer filter tube (50, figure 2) may surround the tubular housing, and have sections of differently tinted translucent material.

Description

I
Title: Solar Evaporator or Steam Generator The present invention relates to a solar evaporator or steam generator.
According to the present invention there is provided a solar evaporator or steam generator comprising: a) an elongate tubular housing of transparent material, b) one or more solar transparent heat exchangers along the length of the housing, each heat exchanger having a flow channel with a water inlet and water outlet and a graphene foam structure between the inlet and outlet, c) a concave mirror on the inside wall of the housing to focus sunlight on the solar heat exchangers, in use each heat exchanger heating water passing over the graphene foam structure to convert the water to vapour. -The vapour from the may be used to drive a steam turbine to provide a steam generator.
The water may be sea water and the vapour may be condensed to provide fresh water.
The or each heat exchanger may be in the form of a transparent tube with an evacuated double wall and a hollow body forming a flow channel through which water flows. A plurality of heat exchangers may have their transparent tubes aligned along an axis of the tubular housing. The or each heat exchanger may be of the type described in my co-pending patent application no. GB1218326.5,the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Preferably an outer filter tube surrounds the elongate tubular housing, said filter tube having sections of wall of translucent material with each section being tinted to allowing different amounts of sunlight to penetrate the filter tube and fall on the or each heat exchanger.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 showing a schematic perspective view of a solar evaporator or heat generator, and Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a filter tube.
Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a solar evaporator or heat generator 1.
Generator 1 has an elongate tubular housing 10 of transparent material such as glass or plastics.
Three (or other number) solar transparent heat exchangers 20,30,40 are provided along the length of the housing lOon the axis of the housing. Heat exchanger 20 has a flow channel formed from an evacuated double wall tube 21 with a water inlet 22 and water outlet 23, and a graphene foam structure 24 between the inlet and outlet. Heat exchanger 30 has a flow channel formed from an evacuated double wall tube 31 with a water inlet 32 and water outlet 33, and a graphene foam structure 34 between the inlet and outlet. Heat exchanger 40 has a flow channel formed from an evacuated double wall tube 41 with a water inlet 42 and water outlet 43, and a graphene foam structure 44 between the inlet and outlet. Each heat exchanger 20,30,40 lies on the axis of the housing 10. The or each heat exchanger may be of the type described in my co-pending patent application no. GB 1218326.5, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
A concave mirror 11 is provided on the inside wall of the housing to focus sunlight on the solar heat exchangers.
In use sunlight is focused onto each heat exchanger 20,30,40 to heat up the graphene foam structure 24,34,44. Water passes from each inlet 22,32,42 over the graphene foam structure 24,34,44 to convert the water to vapour.
The vapour from the may be used to drive a steam turbine to provide a steam generator.
The water may be sea water and the vapour may be condensed to provide fresh water. In such an instance, it would be necessary to remove build up of salt in each heat exchanger from time to time.
Preferably an outer filter tube 50 surrounds the elongate tubular housing 10. As shown in Figure 2, filter tube 50 may have three sections of wall 51,52,53 of translucent material with each section being tinted to allowing different amounts of sunlight to penetrate the filter tube and fall on the or each heat exchanger. Filter tube can be rotated to present a different section of wall 51,52,53 to the sun X to control the amount sunlight falling on a heat exchanger 20,30,40, so controlling the heat generated by each heat exchanger.
The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.
Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention,

Claims (7)

  1. CLAIMS1. A solar evaporator or steam generator comprising: a) an elongate tubular housing of transparent material, b) one or more solar transparent heat exchangers along the length of the housing, each heat exchanger having a flow channel with a water inlet arid water outlet and a graphene foam structure between the inlet and outlet, c) a concave minor on the inside wall of the housing to focus sunlight on the solar heat exchangers, in use each heat exchanger heating water passing over the graphene foam structure to convert the water to vapour.
  2. 2. A solar evaporator or steam generator according to claim I, wherein the vapour is used to drive a steam turbine to provide a steam generator.
  3. 3. A solar evaporator or steam generator according to claim I or 2, wherein the water is sea water and the vapour is condensed to provide fresh water.
  4. 4. A solar evaporator or steam generator according any preceding claim, wherein the or each heat exchanger is in the form of a transparent tube with an evacuated double wall and a hollow body forming a flow channel through which water flows.
  5. 5. A solar evaporator or steam generator according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of heat exchangers have their transparent tubes aligned along an axis of the tubular housing.
  6. 6. A solar evaporator or steam generator according any preceding claim, wherein an outer filter tube surrounds the elongate tubular housing, said filter tube having sections of wall of translucent material with each section being tinted to allowing different amounts of sunlight to penetrate the filter tube and ftll on the or each heat exchanger.
  7. 7. A solar evaporator or steam generator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
GB1220834.4A 2012-11-20 2012-11-20 Solar steam generator using graphene foam Withdrawn GB2508809A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1220834.4A GB2508809A (en) 2012-11-20 2012-11-20 Solar steam generator using graphene foam

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1220834.4A GB2508809A (en) 2012-11-20 2012-11-20 Solar steam generator using graphene foam

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201220834D0 GB201220834D0 (en) 2013-01-02
GB2508809A true GB2508809A (en) 2014-06-18

Family

ID=47521423

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1220834.4A Withdrawn GB2508809A (en) 2012-11-20 2012-11-20 Solar steam generator using graphene foam

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2508809A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105066082A (en) * 2015-08-04 2015-11-18 广东石油化工学院 Solar heat storage steam generator
CN105965357A (en) * 2016-06-07 2016-09-28 宁波高新区世代能源科技有限公司 Solar-energy grinding machine
CN114195214A (en) * 2021-12-02 2022-03-18 中北大学 Method for constructing solar evaporator by using graphene oxide

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2316740A (en) * 1996-08-22 1998-03-04 John Humphrey Millar Solar energy power generator
US20110120452A1 (en) * 2009-11-20 2011-05-26 Miles Mark W Solar flux conversion module
US20110120451A1 (en) * 2009-11-20 2011-05-26 Miles Mark W Device for harnessing solar energy with vapor insulating heat transfer core
US20110271951A1 (en) * 2007-11-08 2011-11-10 Murthy Krs Composite material compositions, arrangements and methods having enhanced thermal conductivity behavior
GB2501713A (en) * 2012-05-01 2013-11-06 Gideon Sta Wan Kukard Solar heat exchanger utilising graphene foam

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2316740A (en) * 1996-08-22 1998-03-04 John Humphrey Millar Solar energy power generator
US20110271951A1 (en) * 2007-11-08 2011-11-10 Murthy Krs Composite material compositions, arrangements and methods having enhanced thermal conductivity behavior
US20110120452A1 (en) * 2009-11-20 2011-05-26 Miles Mark W Solar flux conversion module
US20110120451A1 (en) * 2009-11-20 2011-05-26 Miles Mark W Device for harnessing solar energy with vapor insulating heat transfer core
GB2501713A (en) * 2012-05-01 2013-11-06 Gideon Sta Wan Kukard Solar heat exchanger utilising graphene foam

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105066082A (en) * 2015-08-04 2015-11-18 广东石油化工学院 Solar heat storage steam generator
CN105066082B (en) * 2015-08-04 2017-08-25 广东石油化工学院 A kind of solar energy heat-storage steam generator
CN105965357A (en) * 2016-06-07 2016-09-28 宁波高新区世代能源科技有限公司 Solar-energy grinding machine
CN114195214A (en) * 2021-12-02 2022-03-18 中北大学 Method for constructing solar evaporator by using graphene oxide
CN114195214B (en) * 2021-12-02 2023-05-12 中北大学 Method for constructing solar evaporator by using graphene oxide

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Publication number Publication date
GB201220834D0 (en) 2013-01-02

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